Expressive arts and design

It is important that learners are encouraged from an early age to consider nature and environmental impact whilst being creative. The National Education Nature Park supports imagination, creativity and exploration of materials through nature exploration and connection, encouraging children to express themselves and respond to their experiences and observations. Browse the resources library or take a look at the suggestions below.

Educator guidance
EYFS
Expressive Arts and Design

Adult-led activity suggestions

  • create natural art using the Japanese art of hapa zome. Learners can collect their own leaves, berries and other natural objects and use a mallet or rolling pin to create patterns on cloth.
  • this potions and pies activity can support the exploration of a variety of natural materials to create a mud pie. Learners will explore different techniques to mix, bind and present their pies, thinking about colour, texture and form.
  • make a rainstorm - learners can work as a group to create the sounds of a rainstorm using their own movements, or loose parts.
  • learners can explore animal habitats through nest building. Children can take a walk around a field or local green space to collect soft and hard objects before embarking on a nest-building adventure which provokes thought around the objects birds may collect to create a safe and warm environment, and which materials provide structure and protection. 
Nature Park highlight 
  • Colour collecting: this activity will encourage learners to explore their outdoor space through colour, thinking about why they might find different colours and shades around their site.

Continuous provision

Planning our green future

This activity encourages learners to creatively explore their environment, think about what features they like and why and use these discoveries to make decisions about the changes they’d like to see in their outdoor space. This session creates the opportunity for children to share and reflect on their opinions and experiences, plan the changes they’d like to make on their site and vote on them to reach a decision.

Preview of photographs of green interventions, on a green background

Early learning goals